HOUSTON | Development Thread II

[Bailey]

Yeah but i would like to have it downtown. But oh well its something right. But the news is great. Lots to look forward to...

:cool:

I really wonder what it is with the love affair between developers and uptown. Uptown just doesn't have the infrastructure to support a whole bunch of big office towers like this. Not that it can't be done but look at the traffic around that part of the city as it is. :slob:

I'm not knocking Uptown but are any of these developers even considering downtown???? Downtown has infrastructure in place to handle these type of projects- one way streets, rail, metro park an ride routes, potential for more housing, theater, sports venues, walkable sidewalks, parks, the future intermodal transit, religious buildings, schools, etc.

Of course Uptown has some of these amenities but how will the uptown area look with these GIANT ofoffice towers plus the many new urban centers going up. The density is going to be outrageous and traffic is going to be horrendous and good luck walking down Westheimer to get to your office building because it can't be done.

I guess it makes sense that a developer from a cheesy city like Dubai is proposing this- let's build pedestals in the sky instead of cities that make sense. Disgusting.

Can't we find any developers in Houston that actually care about planning instead of acting like it doesn't exist.

Hines- good job tearing down our oldest historic Little Germany districts downtown for your stunning 70s/80s era buildings from the freeway but lifeless from the street level.

[Reverberation]

News from Nassau Bay! From www.nassaubay.com

Commercial Area Redevelopment

Development Agreement

On March 2, 2007 the City entered into a Development Agreement with Griffin Partners covering the commercial areas around City Hall..

Click here to read the whole Agreement

Following years of declining property values in the commercial areas around City Hall, we are working with new ownership of the 27 acres and 12 office buildings to enhance the community and provide better shopping opportunities for our City. Eleven of the buildings are shown in blue on the following image. The other building is at 1275 Space Park

Griffin Partners is planning a significant mixed-use development that involves retail, new office buildings, a public plaza, multi-family residential, and a hotel.

The new projects are being prepared for the City as a Planned Unit Development (PUD). The PUD ensures a quality project with consistent architectural themes throughout the development. Griffin has produced some preliminary plans that reflect the general character of this exciting new development.

Current site:
http://www.nassaubay.com/images/economic_development/new_dev/exhibitbtofinaldevcontract.jpg

Future renderings:
http://www.nassaubay.com/images/economic_development/new_dev/development.jpg

http://www.nassaubay.com/images/economic_development/new_dev/commercial_1.jpg

http://www.nassaubay.com/images/economic_development/new_dev/commercial_2.jpg

http://www.nassaubay.com/images/economic_development/new_dev/commercial_3.jpg

[Trae]

http://www.houstonx.com/houstonprojects.gif

We need to get one for Uptown.

[c4smok]

I can create one for uptown but its bit more spread out =X

[toxteth o'grady]

A Dubai developer known for constructing conspicuous commercial and residential towers has acquired land in Houston.

Deyaar Development could build the company's first U.S. project on nearly six acres at the corner of Post Oak Boulevard and Richmond Avenue, south of the Galleria mall...

Deyaar? I've heard of Emaar, but they're a new one on me.:shrug: What's their track record on following through?

[toxteth o'grady]

I'm not knocking Uptown but are any of these developers even considering downtown????

Uptown is cheaper and has shopping. To some extent, the gravitational center of Houston is shifting westward, and Uptown is an opportunity.

[toxteth o'grady]

We need to get one for Uptown.

See if you can get the skyscrapers to lean in opposite directions on that one, too.:D

[Trae]

Uptown is cheaper and has shopping. To some extent, the gravitational center of Houston is shifting westward, and Uptown is an opportunity.

The population center of Houston is Gessner at I-10.

[SkyHigh]

The population center of Houston is Gessner at I-10.

Will you please explain what you mean by "population center."

[Complex01]

I dont like that term "Population center". It should always be Down town. Oh well, still great news when you get another high rise in the city. Keeps it up...

:wizard:

[Trae]

The population center isn't Downtown because the Eastern suburbs are not growing as fast as the Western suburbs. Downtown is being pushed to the East and South, as growth in the West, NW, and North suburbs keep going. I would still say that Downtown is the cultural center of Houston (probably the whole West side of the Inner Loop, including Downtown).

Post 2,000!

[rdavis4559]

Houston has offered more than $15.5 million to buy five downtown blocks that could be a future site of a Dynamo soccer stadium.

The city council could vote on the deal this Wednesday. The purchase price assumes the land is worth $49 per square foot, almost quadruple the assessed value of $12.50 per square foot, according to Harris County Appraisal District records.

The five blocks are owned by various corporate entities controlled by former Councilman Louis Macey. To acquire a sixth block, owned by a different company, the city has offered to swap a block nearby that it already owns.

The six-block tract is between Texas and Walker streets on the north and south, and Bastrop and St. Emanuel streets, just east of 59 in the so-called "warehouse district." The area has recently undergone some loft-style residential development.

The city hired an outside assessor for the deal, who said the land is worth $50-55 per square foot.

The land would only be used for a Dynamo stadium if the city can reach a good agreement with the team owners, said Andy Icken, deputy director for Public Works and Engineering. Mayor Bill White has said that he does not want taxpayer money to be used in the stadium construction.

"They identified this tract of land as one in which they would be interested," Icken. Negotiations are still ongoing.

The official line is that the city is acquiring the land for a number of possible future uses, including multifamily residential development

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5549921.html

[TexasPlaya]

I really wish they would have considered the Dome more because I don't want to see it turned into a hotel.

[Trae]

I do! And I really hope the Dome is turned into a hotel.

[toxteth o'grady]

A Gaylord?

[Trae]

Yeah. The Dome will be a 1,000-room convention hotel like the Gaylord Texan.

[Xeelee]

The population center isn't Downtown because the Eastern suburbs are not growing as fast as the Western suburbs. Downtown is being pushed to the East and South, as growth in the West, NW, and North suburbs keep going. I would still say that Downtown is the cultural center of Houston (probably the whole West side of the Inner Loop, including Downtown).

Post 2,000!

Looking at maps of Houston, I find it difficult to believe the center of population is Gessner at I10. One look at some of the maps and I think one could understand why. There are various levels of granularity that could be taken into account when determining the center of population including:

-Population center of The City of Houston.
-Population center of Harris County.
-Population center of the CMSA/MSA.

Surely the pop center of The City of Houston is not Gessner @ I-10. Perhaps it's more the pop center of the Metro.

What do you think?

[Xeelee]

Reading up on the Dynamo stadium, and I started wondering. With the boom in residential market east of DT, when would a residential high rise come to the east side of downtown? There seems to be plenty of parcels of land available that developers/builders are fabricating cookie-cutter type patio homes anyway. Interesting.

[Von]

I know its like off subject...but when will Discovery Tower site will show any signs of movement?

[Xeelee]

There is movement behind the scenes.

[Wattleigh]

I know its like off subject...but when will Discovery Tower site will show any signs of movement?

It's a Houston thread so it's not really OT :)

Anyway, over the past couple of days, they've been assembling some equipment on the site. I took these photos earlier in the morning.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/DSC02555.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/DSC02556.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/DSC02564.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/DSC02563.jpg

[photoLith]

Good to see them doing something at least, and its great to see all of that parking getting turned into towers, even if theyre just 30 stories tall. It will add so much to the downtown experience to get rid of all that parking. Are there any renders for this project?

[Wattleigh]

^^^ So thats where the 60 story Discovery tower might be? I thought it was closer to the JP Morgan Chase tower? Good to see some crap parking turned into buildings though! This will be a great addition to the skyline and the downtown street life! Lets pray it goes through!

Discovery Tower's only 31 floors and it's at 1501 McKinney. It's the Houston City Centre proposal that's the tall one that's been pitched for the block across from the Chase Center Garage.

[rdavis4559]

2 Things out of Chron.com this morning:

"Rail lines can be adjusted for new stadium"
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5554299.html

"The second leg of the Grand Parkway...is now finished on the east side."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5554281.html

[Von]

okay those are some great news!!! well at least for me :P anyways I had to go to downtown today with my friend and took these two shots my friend hates it for me to take pics with my phone bc he thinks is weird... ? lol anyways here there are
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g263/Geebuzz102/bd35df7ad66a.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g263/Geebuzz102/6a4153378f06.jpg

[rdavis4559]

At the Houston Pavilions site, they are making great progress on the skywalks. I don;t have a construction picture right now, but one of the skywalks they have started looks from the renderings like it will be open to the environment. I can't be sure... but see what I mean?
http://www.houstonpavilions.com/render050107/view3_lg.jpg
http://www.houstonpavilions.com/render050107/view4_lg.jpg

[Xeelee]

That looks nice.

[Complex01]

It looks very nice. I cant wait till it opens and stuff. Very Kewl...

:cool:

[rdavis4559]

2 things I saw on HAIF today:

1) The newest office project on the West Loop is unique in a couple of ways.

The 20-story building is the first development venture for Dallas-based The Novati Group, which acquired Bank of America Center in downtown Houston with the General Electric Pension Trust last August for a record price of approximately $370 million.

The building also fits right in with a Landry's Restaurants Inc. marketing brochure making the rounds.

Novati is buying 3.5 acres out of a parcel owned by Landry's on the southbound feeder road between Post Oak and San Felipe.

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/02/25/story1.html

2) Finger has plans for Montrose parcel
The Finger Cos. has purchased 11 acres west of downtown on West Dallas between Montrose and Waugh for a possible development that could include apartments, shops, offices and a hotel.

The tract is south of, and adjacent to, the AIG complex on Allen Parkway. Finger said plans have not been made final.

Cushman & Wakefield's David Cook, Jeff Peden, Marshall Davidson and Graham Horton represented the seller, Knickerbocker Corp. The price was not disclosed.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5561132.html

[Wattleigh]

:previous:
He beat me to it by a few seconds :haha:

[Xeelee]

Man you guys are phast! :)

[Saddle Man]

Anybody remember the remember the building that looked like cubes stacked off-center from each other. There were rumbling about it being on Westhiemer in Montrose. I liked that one.

[Shasta]

Here's the old Ziegler Cooper design for the 20 story tower at 1600 West Loop. The HBJ article states they will be using the same one so I imagine it will look a lot like this;

http://www.twproperties.com/pages/1600_west_loop_web.gif

That same article also mentions the possibility for a 21 story hotel tower located on the same parcel.

[rdavis4559]

Anybody remember the remember the building that looked like cubes stacked off-center from each other. There were rumbling about it being on Westhiemer in Montrose. I liked that one.

I liked it too.... haven't heard anything about it though.

[Xeelee]

I think it was nothing but a fantasy.

[rdavis4559]

Several more things I grabbed off of HAIF:

1) Commercial real estate firm Transwestern Houston has acquired 50 acres along the Texas 288 corridor and plans to put up six industrial buildings there over the next two years.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5563713.html

2) Archstone-Smith is planning to demolish the 12-year-old Archstone Memorial Heights apartment complex to make room for a new mixed-use project.
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/02/25/story10.html

3) Nearly 400,000 square feet of new office space will be under construction in The Woodlands area by mid-spring.
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/02/25/story12.html?page=2#1

[Reverberation]

At the Houston Pavilions site, they are making great progress on the skywalks. I don;t have a construction picture right now, but one of the skywalks they have started looks from the renderings like it will be open to the environment. I can't be sure... but see what I mean?
http://www.houstonpavilions.com/render050107/view3_lg.jpg
http://www.houstonpavilions.com/render050107/view4_lg.jpg

Look at all those people! In fact, I see the same three guys over and over again in that shot. I guess thats how they make those.

[toxteth o'grady]

"In fact, I see the same three guys over and over again in that shot."

They get around...

[TritonHouston]

Attack of the clones.

[Wattleigh]

A few different places around town over the past week...

One Park Place

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02565.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/OPPBase1.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/OPPBase2.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02616.jpg

New Sign hung over the park side in the past two days

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02617.jpg

MainPlace Site

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02576.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02578.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02577.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02612.jpg

Discovery Tower Site

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02620.jpg

Looking out from across the MainPlace site

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02609.jpg

Memorial Hills Site (Jackson Hill area)

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/MH022408.jpg

2727 Kirby

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02640.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02641.jpg

Top of one of the West Ave. Buildings

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02642.jpg

Upper Kirby Scene at Belle Meade site with cranes of West Ave & 2727 Kirby in view

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02647.jpg

Belle Meade

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/BelleMeade022408B.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/BelleMeade022408A.jpg

Life Science Plaza

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02639.jpg

Mosaic II

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/MosaicII022408.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02637.jpg

[Cory]

Great job with the udates.

[Xeelee]

okay those are some great news!!! well at least for me :P anyways I had to go to downtown today with my friend and took these two shots my friend hates it for me to take pics with my phone bc he thinks is weird... ? lol anyways here there are
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g263/Geebuzz102/bd35df7ad66a.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g263/Geebuzz102/6a4153378f06.jpg

Cool pics. Keep up the good work. :)

[Xeelee]

I wunder if the HP's circular walkway over the street will be open to the traffic below. I mean... with the noisy metro buses and all the exhaust all the vehicles spew forth... would being open like that be a good idea?

[rdavis4559]

Houston is second only to Los Angeles in the number of environment-friendly commercial buildings built nationwide, according to a report released last month by the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate at the University of San Diego.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/02/25/daily8.html?ana=from_rss

[Samwill89]

:previous:

Houston is also second to Los Angeles in being the worst polluted major city. :(

[Wattleigh]

:previous:

Houston is also second to Los Angeles in being the worst polluted major city. :(

Not so.

http://www.citymayors.com/environment/polluted_uscities.html

[Wattleigh]

Proposal to finance site for stadium on the horizon (Dynamo)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5566708.html

[mikecolley]

Here's some pics I took of the Pavillions this weekend while I rode my bike through downtown.

Fannin St. bridge
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2292615179_aafcb2ddde_b.jpg

San Jacinto bridge
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2303/2293399878_82231d1d43_b.jpg

I was trying to captue the circular walkway, but it's so big it's hard to get a decent shot.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2293400812_168f6202e4_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2198/2292614325_e2deb4513f_b.jpg

San Jacinto sidewalk
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2246/2292614061_76b864938d_b.jpg

A peek inside the Pavillions
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/2293400494_d63f076b34_b.jpg

As a bonus, check out the new bike path which runs from east of downtown to the Brays Bayou.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2292657119_b05cda8ae8_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2334/2292657127_c240633103_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2292657135_a9bc21bf66_b.jpg

[KevinFromTexas]

Nice. That bike path is sweet! I think I'd probably have trouble staying on it though with that view ahead of me. :haha:

[Xeelee]

Awesome pics!

[Complex01]

Kewl, a new bike path fun. Have to check that out some time...

:yes:

[Great_Hizzy]

Yeah, I think putting that path in was a stroke of genius. Good job of capturing it.

[Von]

lol I'ts funy bc I live pretty close to that area of the path :)
omg I hope to see some glass somewhere in the Pavillions pretty soon!

[Wheelingman04]

I'm loving this.

[Wattleigh]

I was out and about again today and snapped a few pics...

One Park Place (21 stories now) against 5 Houston Center (27 stories / 375 ft)
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02664.jpg

Looking from the plaza outside Toyota Center
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02666.jpg

Facade being installed on Pavilions Tower
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02665.jpg

New Walkway between Memorial City Mall & the Gateway Tract
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02653.jpg

Westin Memorial City Site
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02652.jpg

[Von]

I just had dinner at the Spaghetti Warehouse and they close down San Jacinto street at night so pretty soon we will see some glass go up on the Pavillions' bridge:) nice pics Wattleigh, it's exciting seeing all these cranes go up around the city!

[rdavis4559]

Feds get on board for 2 Metro light rail projects

The Federal Transit Administration is committed to helping the Metropolitan Transit Authority qualify for funding of two light rail lines by the end of the year, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Tuesday.

Hutchison's statement came after a closed-door meeting in her Washington office, where FTA Administrator James Simpson and Deputy Administrator Sherry Little talked with Mayor Bill White, Metro President and CEO Frank Wilson, board chairman David Wolff and a bipartisan congressional delegation from the Houston area.

Hutchison, R-Texas, said Simpson was committed to the same goal as the delegation, "and that is a full funding grant agreement by the end of the year."

Such an agreement would ensure that Metro could complete the two lines, provided it followed required federal procedures.

So far, Metro has pushed the projects forward with a series of small grants for preliminary studies.

Metro has applied for $500 million in federal aid to build the North and Southeast lines. Hutchison said the full funding agreement is important because "once that is committed to by the FTA, then it automatically goes into the budget and we don't have to fight for it."

FTA officials would not confirm statements from others that the agency had agreed to help Metro obtain $500 million, but the FTA did issue a brief statement of support.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5573343.html

[Dale]

Hold on, what about the line to Uptown ? Has that already received funding ?

[Xeelee]

Hold on, what about the line to Uptown ? Has that already received funding ?

Doubtful.

[c4smok]

New Discovery Tower Rendering..

Via Thehaif.com

found by ChannelTwoNews

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/5/5/D/xy_55DC10F3-BB4C-41AA-AD77-3BB82DB751D6__.JPG

[rdavis4559]

Nice

[Trae]

Doubtful.
Metro is funding that line itself. Article says so.

[CALMSP]

does anyone have any info on plans for the Rusk & Fannin corner downtown?? Its been empty for almost 4 years now........

[rdavis4559]

High-rise would fail new city standards
Ashby project must be changed if it is to follow traffic revision

The proposed Ashby high-rise would not win approval under the city's new traffic-impact rules without changes to the developers' plan, Mayor Bill White said Wednesday.

Plans for the 23-story Ashby project originally called for 226 residential units, shops, a restaurant and a five-story parking garage at 1717 Bissonnet by the adjoining Southampton and Boulevard Oaks neighborhoods.

"So, if they just propose what they proposed in August, it's not going to meet our standard," White said.

The standard was contained in a set of three criteria unveiled during Wednesday's City Council meeting by White. The criteria were developed as clarification of a decades-old ordinance the mayor wants to use to force traffic revisions from the Ashby developers, if needed.

The developers of the Ashby project, Matthew Morgan and Kevin Kirton of Buckhead Investment Partners, did not return calls for comment.

The City Council indicated its support of White's approach by shelving a draft ordinance that had been the subject of debate for many months. Instead, the city will take public discussion for six months, and use an old city law on driveways to force traffic revisions from the Ashby developers, if needed.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5576949.html

[Xeelee]

I wonder when they will schedule meetings for this issue. I say just build it but we shall see.

[rdavis4559]

Here is some awesome news for the Medical Center:

Newest and Tallest: The Texas Medical Center Goes Condo

Here’s what we know so far about the new 40-story hotel-and-condo tower Medistar Corporation is planning for the corner of Main St. and Dryden, between Rice’s new Collaborative Research Center and the Baylor Clinic on the west side of Main: not a whole lot.

But at 40 stories, the new building would likely be the tallest tower in the Texas Medical Center. (The new Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza is only 31.) That’s taller than those twin hypodermics, too.

A lot-line variance for the project is item number 111 before the Planning Commission this afternoon. And the request provides a few clues. Medistar wants the same 10-foot setback along Main St. that the Baylor Clinic has, so the new building can have a similar passenger dropoff and a “pedestrian friendly” entry on that side. The building’s longer axis will be perpendicular to Main. The arguments imply Medistar intends to have “ornamental decorations and balconies” on the Main St. side, and that the tower will be linked by skybridge to the Medical Center main campus across the street.

According to the Southgate Neighborhood Newsletter, the tower will include a 1200-car parking facility.

http://swamplot.com/newest-and-tallest-the-texas-medical-center-goes-condo/2008-02-28/

[KevinFromTexas]

^ Wow. So that would have to be close to 500 feet I would think. The Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza is 430 feet.

[Wattleigh]

Discovery Green's preview is this Saturday from 4-11!

http://www.discoverygreen.com/en/cms/?716

[Wattleigh]

From PAC on HAIF...

FYI - MainPlace is breaking ground on Monday March 3rd, two months ahead of schedule. Cap beam excavation will start the first week, with first drilling operations the following week. The site will ramp up to 3 drilling rigs by late March.

WIN.

[CALMSP]

Here is some awesome news for the Medical Center:

Newest and Tallest: The Texas Medical Center Goes Condo

Here’s what we know so far about the new 40-story hotel-and-condo tower Medistar Corporation is planning for the corner of Main St. and Dryden, between Rice’s new Collaborative Research Center and the Baylor Clinic on the west side of Main: not a whole lot.

But at 40 stories, the new building would likely be the tallest tower in the Texas Medical Center. (The new Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza is only 31.) That’s taller than those twin hypodermics, too.

A lot-line variance for the project is item number 111 before the Planning Commission this afternoon. And the request provides a few clues. Medistar wants the same 10-foot setback along Main St. that the Baylor Clinic has, so the new building can have a similar passenger dropoff and a “pedestrian friendly” entry on that side. The building’s longer axis will be perpendicular to Main. The arguments imply Medistar intends to have “ornamental decorations and balconies” on the Main St. side, and that the tower will be linked by skybridge to the Medical Center main campus across the street.

According to the Southgate Neighborhood Newsletter, the tower will include a 1200-car parking facility.

http://swamplot.com/newest-and-tallest-the-texas-medical-center-goes-condo/2008-02-28/


I am stoked for this :banana: i just wish i still had my apt with the balcony view to see this thing built

[Xeelee]

Here is some awesome news for the Medical Center:

Newest and Tallest: The Texas Medical Center Goes Condo

Here’s what we know so far about the new 40-story hotel-and-condo tower Medistar Corporation is planning for the corner of Main St. and Dryden, between Rice’s new Collaborative Research Center and the Baylor Clinic on the west side of Main: not a whole lot.

But at 40 stories, the new building would likely be the tallest tower in the Texas Medical Center. (The new Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza is only 31.) That’s taller than those twin hypodermics, too.

A lot-line variance for the project is item number 111 before the Planning Commission this afternoon. And the request provides a few clues. Medistar wants the same 10-foot setback along Main St. that the Baylor Clinic has, so the new building can have a similar passenger dropoff and a “pedestrian friendly” entry on that side. The building’s longer axis will be perpendicular to Main. The arguments imply Medistar intends to have “ornamental decorations and balconies” on the Main St. side, and that the tower will be linked by skybridge to the Medical Center main campus across the street.

According to the Southgate Neighborhood Newsletter, the tower will include a 1200-car parking facility.

http://swamplot.com/newest-and-tallest-the-texas-medical-center-goes-condo/2008-02-28/




Wow. I just fell off my chair!

[Great_Hizzy]

Ho hum. They're building another tower in the Med Center. Water is wet. Blah-blah-blah.

;)

[vjhe]

Very very exciting stuff. I will be holding my breath and crossing my fingers on the design of the new Medical Tower. Since we are talking about the Medical Center, I am not expecting a flashy or funky type styled architectural design for the building, however I do hope there is a lot of glass and it reaches 500 in height. That would please me and we all know that is the most important thing. :)

[rdavis4559]

Very very exciting stuff. I will be holding my breath and crossing my fingers on the design of the new Medical Tower. Since we are talking about the Medical Center, I am not expecting a flashy or funky type styled architectural design for the building, however I do hope there is a lot of glass and it reaches 500 in height. That would please me and we all know that is the most important thing. :)

The Medical Center is already a skyline in itself... adding a new tallest is great.

Here is One Park Place as of today... notice Discovery Green in the background:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMG00342.jpg

[weatherguru18]

If it is the tallest, it won't be by much. The amount of space per floor is vastly different from a residential highrise vs. a commercial highrise. A 40 story residential tower may appear to only be 30 stories.

[rdavis4559]

Twins are fine too (like Wells Fargo Plaza and Chase Tower)

[Wattleigh]

Some photos from the Pavilions site this morning...

The block fronting Main Street

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02679.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02683.jpg

The second series of skybridges to be installed over Fannin

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02682.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02676.jpg

Pavilions Tower

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02681.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02684.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02687.jpg

Moving the first windows to be installed in the office building

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02688.jpg

Looking back along Dallas Street

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02675.jpg

The block w/ the House of Blues

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02674.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02672.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02673.jpg

Looking back

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC02671.jpg

[rdavis4559]

Twins are fine too (like Wells Fargo Plaza and Chase Tower)Two things from swamplot:

Here is a pic of the med center condo:
http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/medistar-tv-model.jpg
http://swamplot.com/live-on-tv-new-med-center-hotel-condo-tower/2008-02-29/

2:
Apparently, the roof of Discovery Tower will have wind turbines:
http://swamplot.com/discovery-tower-yep-they-are-wind-turbines/2008-02-29/

[KevinFromTexas]

Hmm, 431 feet?? Honestly, it doesn't look much taller than St. Luke's. Still, a ~450 foot there would be sweet. I wouldn't expect spires with the design. St. Luke's has that trademarked for that skyline.

[mikecolley]

Anybody go to the preview of Discovery Green? I was very impressed with the park. It's such an improvement to the downtown area.

Here are my pics:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2303787552_16b57d84eb.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2021/2303783026_f2afd9c8d2.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/2302994423_14068555e2.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/2302987533_b083c955c1.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2111/2303792864_4cfd70a983.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/2303789854_d854953bc6.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2302996851_76a229d410.jpg

[Wattleigh]

I had planned on going to the park but something came up at the last minute. You have some great shots there though, and I love that last one! I'd been wondering how some of the water elements would be lit at night and that's definitely no let down. Can't wait for it to open!

[toxteth o'grady]

As a bonus, check out the new bike path which runs from east of downtown to the Brays Bayou.

That's a nice piece of pavement. The East Side is really starting to shape up.:banana:

[toxteth o'grady]

Feds get on board for 2 Metro light rail projects

The Federal Transit Administration is committed to helping the Metropolitan Transit Authority qualify for funding of two light rail lines by the end of the year, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Tuesday.

And yet they won't back the light rail from Tyson's to Dulles Airport in DC.:hell:

[toxteth o'grady]

Discovery Green's preview is this Saturday from 4-11!

http://www.discoverygreen.com/en/cms/?716

Cool stuff. I don't get to see news about my old high school in the press often enough, and Doc Morgan deserves the recognition. Sounds like it was a swingin' time.

[photoLith]

I am so glad to see this project getting finished (DG), it will improve downtown so much, especially in that area, where everything is just parking. It will spur a bunch of new towers, hopefully more then the 3 that are planned or are going up. I'll have to go down there, whenever I get back home to see it! I cant wait!

[Wattleigh]

The beginning of Discovery Tower, Titan Floorplans and a New Future for Sharpstown Center are covered in this week's Sarnoff column...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/sarnoff/5583898.html

[rdavis4559]

What is that pixelated looking piece of art/wall in the background of the picture in which people are eating at the restaurant?

[Trae]

Restroom.

[Wattleigh]

Thanks to the engineering in a number of the buildings in and around the Medical Center, projects like the expansion of the Alkek hospital are possible and it has recently gotten underway. It began as a 13 story building but will be 22 stories when complete.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/MDAndersonAlkekExpansion.jpg

HKS Rendering, A description of the project is located here: http://www.mccarthy.com/download/press_photos/MDAnderson.asp

[mikecolley]

What is that pixelated looking piece of art/wall in the background of the picture in which people are eating at the restaurant?

It's the entrance to the underground parking garage, not a restroom as I expected. Here's a better pic.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2139/2302983995_7abb2c56cc.jpg

[toxteth o'grady]

The beginning of Discovery Tower, Titan Floorplans and a New Future for Sharpstown Center are covered in this week's Sarnoff column...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/sarnoff/5583898.html


The description of the Titan says 80 rooms on 26 stories. I've probably made the remark before, but that suggests either big individual units or a small floor plate.

[Saddle Man]

I'm really digging the Discovery Green parking garage entrance.

[TexasBoi]

And yet they won't back the light rail from Tyson's to Dulles Airport in DC.:hell:

While I would love for the rail line in DC to work. How much does this rail line cost compared to the these 2 lines? That maybe your answer.

[CALMSP]

from today's CHRONICLE................."twin 20-story towers in Seabrook"

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5586325.html

[Xeelee]

The description of the Titan says 80 rooms on 26 stories. I've probably made the remark before, but that suggests either big individual units or a small floor plate.

I think it is mostly big units. I received some sort of sales/info package in the mail. In one of the folders they show the floor plans. It seems most are quite large in terms of square footage.

[Dale]

I must confess that when I first read 'Titan' I was expecting a taller building than 26 strories. What would we need to call a tall building, 'Gynormous' ?

[Complex01]

Anybody go to the preview of Discovery Green? I was very impressed with the park. It's such an improvement to the downtown area.

Here are my pics:




Ah very nice. yeah i can wait for it to open as well. Very kewl...

:cool:

[Wattleigh]

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080303006018&newsLang=en

Lewis Realty Advisors Announces HOUSTON HOT SPOTS for 2008

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lewis Realty Advisors, one of the oldest and most respected real estate firms in Texas, has named the 2008 HOUSTON HOT SPOTS among the city’s most vibrant commercial real estate markets.

Houston-based Lewis Realty Advisors has expertly appraised, brokered, consulted and developed commercial real estate projects since 1961. The HOUSTON HOT SPOTS forecast identifies the submarkets with the fundamental strength, market momentum and catalyst developments to outpace the rest of the city in 2008.

“The Houston commercial real estate markets are outstanding and getting even better as we look ahead in the new year. Continued job growth and surging oil prices have bolstered the local office market and industrial properties. Retail centers have been supported by the large numbers of new rooftops that have been constructed,” said Matthew Deal, co-managing partner of Lewis Realty Advisors.

The Lewis Realty Advisors 2008 HOUSTON HOT SPOTS are:

GOLD MEDAL – Uptown. Certainly Houston’s – and possibly the nation’s - biggest success story is Uptown, a mixed-use submarket that has fully blossomed in the last 10 years. Uptown boasts an even mixture of residential, office and retail. Residential development always precedes commercial development and new residential projects are going up everywhere in Uptown. These new high-rise residences are fueling commercial development. Hanover recently locked up a Wulfe Company site on San Felipe west of Post Oak for a 50 or 60-story residential tower. Ritz Carlton is building a hotel/condo on a Wulfe site south of San Felipe. These ‘customers’ will feed Wulfe’s Boulevard Place development, anchored by 80,000 square-foot Whole Foods and redevelopment of existing restaurants, including Café Annie. These developments have fueled new office building announcements on Post Oak. The bottom line: Uptown is diverse and the uses feed off each other. With improved mobility on San Felipe Road and in Uptown Park and Metro rail coming, the future is bright for Uptown.

SILVER MEDAL – Downtown. New office towers are planned by Hines, Trammell Crow and other major developers as the office vacancy has dropped to its lowest point in years. But the biggest change is Finger Companies’ new high-rise residential tower, One Park Place. This will advance the population growth to help lift the CBD over the top. Since 1997, government has invested significant capital in new CBD projects – a baseball stadium, a basketball arena, Metro rail, expanded convention center, significant street improvements and a convention hotel. But the 24-hour environment so sorely needed has not come to pass. There are exceptions, such as the Bayou Place development near the Arts District, which has a vibrant night life. But many restaurants and bars on Main Street have closed. The underlying problem has been the lack of a significant number of residents in the CBD. Finger’s new residential tower is changing this. We could be seeing the start of an Uptown-like rebirth in downtown. The new Discovery Green park could be Houston’s version of Central Park, the Houston Pavilions entertainment/restaurant project by William Denton, and discussion of a second convention hotel, all point to a more diverse, mixed-use downtown.

BRONZE MEDAL - Texas Medical Center. A city in and of itself, the Med Center GDP is greater than many entire states. Med Center ‘citizens’ are highly educated with high-paying jobs. And the Med Center is expanding, resulting in more residential development, which is attracting new retail. Real estate prices in this submarket have shot up dramatically. Periphery sites to the east along Almeda Road and to the south of the Med Center that have been lying fallow for years are being purchased for high-rise and mid-rise residential development. Office space and other commercial square footage are at a premium. Medical institutions are seeking off-site, but nearby locales, for offices for accounting functions and other back-office workers and warehouses. Med Center demographics cannot be overlooked – some 75,000 people are employed there, including 10,000 doctors or other PhDs.

Lewis Realty Advisors, founded by David M. Lewis, has appraised, brokered and developed commercial real estate for almost 50 years. The Houston-based company provides consulting and advisory services for private property owners and governmental agencies. For more information: www.LewisRealty.com.

[Trae]

Ritz-Carlton at BLVD Place is basically official now (almost).

[toxteth o'grady]

While I would love for the rail line in DC to work. How much does this rail line cost compared to the these 2 lines? That maybe your answer.

Sorry to say, it isn't. People at MWAA suspect that Bush's DOT is hostile to transit projects (they rejected funding of Metro once) and is trying to push the rail corridor into the hands of private developers. MWAA originally pushed to take over the project because it looked like the State of Virginia was never going to get off the dime and build the piece from Tyson's out to Dulles. The Access Highway corridor in which the rail link will be located has always belonged to MWAA; therefore MWAA is best suited to develop the rail link.